The Russian Revolution in a Nutshell

The Russian Revolution was the result of a long period of repression and unrest. Tsardom became an autocratic form of power that maintained power by force and disregard for human life and liberty. Western humanitarian idea began to arise by a group of educated Russians as Western technology was being adopted. The majority of the idealists were humanitarian and democratic, however there were also those who were politically radical and even revolutionary. Tsar Alexander II's reforms opened the way for industrial development and restored freedom to the serfs. However, emancipation lead to harsh economic conditions on the peasants. Industrialization concentrated people in urban centers, where the working class was a receptive audience for radical ideas. Pogroms were instituted against the Jews. Non-Russian nationalities in the empire were repressed.Russia was split up into several political groups. The highest class was composed of nobility and the higher clergy; the middle class capitalists wanted a constitutional monarchy while peasants were a part of the Socialist Revolutionary party. The workers, influenced by Marxism, were represented in the Bolshevik and Menshevik wings of the Social Democratic Labor party